PMUT-Powered Photoacoustic Detection
Revolutionizing Microfluidic Concentration Measurements
Kaustav Roy (Cornell University, Indian Institute of Science)
Akshay Kumar (Indian Institute of Science)
Vijayendra Shastri (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Isha Munjal (Indian Institute of Science)
Kritank Kalyan (University of Pennsylvania)
Anuj Ashok (Purdue University, Zepsor Technologies)
Antony Jeyaseelan (Indian Institute of Science)
Jaya Prakash (Indian Institute of Science)
Rudra Pratap (Indian Institute of Science)
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Abstract
This report introduces a novel optofluidic platform based on piezo-microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, capable of identifying subtle variations in the fluid concentration. The system utilizes piezoelectric micromachined ultrasound transducers (PMUTs) as receivers to capture sound waves produced by nanosecond photoacoustic (PA) pulses emanating from a fluid target housed in PDMS microchannels. Additionally, a dedicated low-noise single-channel amplifier has been developed to extract the minute analog voltage signals from the PMUTs, given the inherently weak ultrasound signals generated by fluid targets. The PMUTs' proficiency in detecting changes in fluid concentration under both static and time-varying conditions has been documented and verified, confirming the platform's efficacy in monitoring fluid concentrations.